Great Battles in History: The Battle of Issos

The Battle of Issos was the second major battle between Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia, and The Persian Empire. However, it was the first between Alexander and the Persian King Darius III. The battle took place in November 333 B.C.E., on the narrow coastal plain in modern day southern Turkey.

Alexander crossed into Anatolia in Spring 334 B.C.E., and after defeating local Persian forces at the Granicus River, he conquered Anatolia with relative ease. In 333 B.C.E. Darius III was eager to defeat this upstart and take back Anatolia. Darius III set out with his army numbering anywhere between 100,000 and 600,000 men. This large difference is because many ancient historians exaggerated their number. Anyway it is certain that Alexander was greatly out numbered.

Alexander moved his army into the narrow coastal plain. This was ideal landscape for Alexander because it took away the Persian advantage of numbers. Also, this terrain allowed him to be resupplied therefore, he could wait for Darius. Darius was not stupid, he did not want to fight Alexander there. His plan was to fight Alexander in the open Amik plains in modern day Syria. However, Alexander did not leave the coastal plains. Darius with a large army could not be supplied there indefinitely therefore, he had to go to Alexander.

Darius crossed Amanus Mountains to the north of Issos, which surprised Alexander, and cut off his supply lines. Battle was immanent. The armies met at the Pinarus River, Alexander set up his forces south of the river with Darius to the north. Alexander placed his infantry phalanx in the center, with Thessalian cavalry on his left, and himself with the rest of the cavalry on his right. Darius focused his infantry in the center with a good number on his flanks with the cavalry. Darius himself was in the center of the formation, protected by his bodyguard. Alexander started the battle by charging his right flank into the Persian left, causing the line to brake. In the center the infantry were in a stalemate, and on the Persian right the cavalry attacked the Thessalian cavalry, pushing them back. However, when the Persian left broke, Alexander turned the cavalry and flanked the Persian infantry in the center, causing them to flee. At this time the Persian cavalry retreated on the right flank. With the whole Persian line in flee and panic, Alexander charged Darius, cutting through his bodyguard. Darius, with the battle lost fled before Alexander got to him.

The Macedonians won a decisive victory. The casualty rates for the Persians were in the tens of thousands, while the Macedonians were in the hundreds. Two factors attribute to this. One, history is written by the victor, leading to exaggeration. Second, since the Persians were being routed, more of them were cut down. This battle left Alexander free to conquer the rest of the coastal plain and down into Egypt. Darius survived to fight another day, which came on October 1, 331 B.C.E. at the Battle of Gaugamela. There Darius was defeated again leaving Persepolis, the Persian capital, open to Alexander.

Alexander The Ambiguity of Greatness, Guy MacLean Rogers. Random House Trade Paperbacks. 2004.